This is according to the author of 'Gangster State', Pieter-Louis Myburgh, who speaking at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein said his statement comes in light of Magashule's alleged role in state capture in the province and how state capture affected businesses and the local economy. Myburgh's critics have since the release of his book in April lambasted him for allegations he makes against Magashule in the publication, with many citing work Magashule has done for sending students to study overseas as some of the compelling arguments against the claims Myburgh had made in his book.

Myburgh, however, said the Free State provincial government has suffered devastating financial effects of Magashule's alleged state looting.

As a result, young emerging business persons in the province who were meant to benefit from government projects meant to develop them suffered the most as they were impacted by what Myburgh claims is wide scale corruption throughout several spheres of the local and provincial government.

He further alleged that Magashule deliberately set up projects under the guise of "Radical Economic Transformation", which the former premier has widely said is a program the ANC has developed to promote the interests of young, black entrepreneurs and businesspersons yet Magashule knew that he, his family members and allies were the ones that were going to benefit the most from the funds that were to be released from these projects.

In his book, titled Gangster State: Unravelling Magashule's Web of Capture, Myburgh has written several chapters about how these alleged dubious dealings were paid for from the public purse and also, how the intended beneficiaries from some of these projects were often the ones that were the last to benefit from them. One example of such project is the Estina Dairy Farm project in Vrede, which has been the subject of many media reports and also came under focus at the Public Protector's office and the Zondo Commission of Enquiry into State Capture.

Myburgh spoke from the Odein in Bloemfontein, where a panel discussion on his book is currently underway.

OFM News